Navigate:

NRA raises $1.1M in January

The National Rifle Association’s political action committee raised $1.1 million in January, according to the committee’s latest filing with the Federal Election Commission.

It’s the NRA’s best fundraising month since August 2012 — and reflects growing concern on the part of gun supporters that Congress and President Barack Obama are prepared to take steps to curb or limit access to firearms.

Text Size

During 2011 and 2012, the committee raised, on average about $600,000 a month — for a two-year total of $14.3 million. The committee has nearly doubled their 2011-12 fundraising pace in a month full of vows from Obama and congressional Democrats to pass new gun control measures.

The NRA made just two donations to politicians in January, giving $1,000 to Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) and $2,500 to Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

As of the end of January, the NRA’s PAC had $2.4 million on hand with no debt.

On the other side of the issue, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has funded a super PAC to advance an agenda in favor of gun control. That super PAC — Independence USA PAC — has spent more than $1 million in an Illinois special election to replace Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr (D-Ill.). The NRA’s PAC, by contrast, cannot accept unlimited funds like the Bloomberg super PAC and is limited to contributions of no more than $5,000.